Texans minicamp report: Hopkins is a fast learner

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In his first practices of organized team activities, Texans receiver Andre Johnson noticed that rookie DeAndre Hopkins seemed to be thinking a little too much on the field.

Hopkins was thinking and learning rapidly.

After some early struggles, the first-round draft pick is starting to impress the coaching staff.

“I’ve been impressed. He struggled early — which we knew he would — but I think it helps when you throw a guy in with the ones right away because he gets coached by (Matt) Schaub,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “But the last three days he’s impressed me because he hasn’t had Matt and he hasn’t had Andre (Johnson) out here and he’s been on top of what he’s doing. He’s obviously very gifted. We’ve just got to make sure we’ve got him doing what he does best.”

Jones has golden opportunity

Without nose tackle Shaun Cody on the Texans roster in 2013, defensive lineman Chris Jones has a chance to contribute as a rookie behind starter Earl Mitchell.

Jones said the Texas heat is speeding up his growth process.

“I’m definitely in a lot better shape, being out here in the sun. I think I’ve grown a lot as a football player. I’m taking coaching well,” Jones said. “I’m coming out here just working as hard as I can everyday. When I come out here and get corrected on the things I do wrong it really helps me as a football player.”

Jones has been putting in extra time watching film on himself and working on his footwork, he said. Preceding training camp in July, Jones said he will head back to Ohio where he went to Bowling Green University and improve his cardio before returning.

“Just getting in shape. I’m going to be running a lot — definitely working on my steps. We won’t really have the film there, obviously, back at school is where I will be,” Jones said. “I’ll be there lifting and running and working on my technique. So everything that I can work on, I’m going to try to work on while I’m up there.”

Posey, Reed only questions for camp

Kubiak is expecting a mostly healthy team when the Texans return for training camp on July 26.

His biggest question mark now is receiver DeVier Posey, who is recovering from a torn Achilles. Posey had surgery on the injury in January.

“Listening to our trainers, I think there is no doubt that everybody is going to be ready to go except for Posey as of right now,” Kubiak said. “We’ll have to see. We’ve got a month.”

Earlier in the week, safety Ed Reed said he is also unsure about his status for training camp.